Serum chitotriosidase in postmenopausal women with severe osteoporosis
M Musumeci1,2, A Palermo3, L D'Onofrio4
1Clinical Pathology and Microbiology Laboratory, University Campus Bio-Medico, Rome, Italy.
Insights
Serum chitotriosidase (Chit) levels are significantly higher in postmenopausal women with severe osteoporosis compared to healthy controls. This study reveals a negative correlation between Chit and bone mineral density (BMD), suggesting Chit as a potential biomarker for osteoporosis.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Endocrinology
- Osteology
Background:
- Mammalian chitinases, including chitotriosidase (Chit), play roles in monocyte lineage and inflammatory diseases.
- Chit activity has been implicated in promoting bone resorption in vitro.
- This study investigates the in vivo role of Chit activity in postmenopausal women with severe osteoporosis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate chitotriosidase (Chit) activity in postmenopausal women with severe osteoporosis.
- To determine the correlation between Chit levels and bone mineral density (BMD) in this population.
- To explore Chit as a potential biomarker for severe postmenopausal osteoporosis.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional study involving 91 postmenopausal women with osteoporosis and 61 controls (osteopenia or normal BMD).
- Bone mineral density (BMD) assessed by DXA and vertebral fractures by X-ray morphometry.
- Serum chitotriosidase (Chit) and beta-CrossLaps (CTX) were measured.
Main Results:
- Osteoporotic subjects (Group A) exhibited significantly higher serum Chit levels than controls (Group B) (1042 vs. 472 nmol/mL/h, p < 0.001).
- A significant negative correlation was found between Chit levels and BMD at the lumbar spine (r=-0.38), femoral neck (r=-0.35), and total femur (r=-0.39).
- Multivariate analysis confirmed a positive correlation between severe osteoporosis and Chit, beta-CTX, and age.
Conclusions:
- This is the first clinical study demonstrating a correlation between chitotriosidase (Chit) and severe postmenopausal osteoporosis.
- Chit may serve as a promising clinical biomarker for osteoporosis.
- Further prospective studies are warranted to validate Chit's role as a biomarker and therapeutic monitor.
Unlabelled:
Human chitotriosidase (Chit) increases during the osteoclast differentiation and their activity. We demonstrated that serum Chit was significantly higher in osteoporotic subjects than in healthy control ones and revealed a negative correlation between Chit and bone mineral density (BMD). This is the first study showing a correlation between Chit and severe postmenopausal osteoporosis.
Introduction:
Mammalian chitinases exert important biological roles in the monocyte lineage and chronic inflammatory diseases. In particular, Chit seems to promote bone resorption in vitro. No in vivo studies have been performed to confirm this finding. We aim to evaluate Chit activity in postmenopausal women affected by severe osteoporosis.
Methods:
In this cross-sectional study, 91 postmenopausal women affected by osteoporosis and 61 with either osteopenia or normal BMD were screened. All subjects were assessed by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) and X-ray vertebral morphometry. Osteoporotic subjects were considered eligible if they were affected by at least one vertebral osteoporotic fracture (group A = 57 subjects). Osteopenic or healthy subjects were free from osteoporotic fractures (group B = 51 subjects). Enzymatic Chit and serum β-CrossLaps (CTX) were measured in the whole population.
Results:
Group A showed higher serum levels of beta-CTX compared to group B (0.40 ± 0.26 ng/mL vs 0.29 ± 0.2 ng/mL, p = 0.022). Chit was significantly higher in group A than in group B (1042 ± 613 nmol/mL/h vs 472 ± 313 nmol/mL/h, p < 0.001, respectively) even after adjustment for age (p < 0.001). Spearman correlation test revealed a negative correlation between Chit and BMD at each site (lumbar spine: r = -0.38, p = 0.001, femoral neck: r = -0.35, p = 0.001, total femur: r = -0.39, p < 0.001). Furthermore, a positive correlation between Chit and PTH was observed (r = 0.26, p = 0.013). No significant correlation was found between Chit and beta-CTX (r = 0.12, p = 0.229). After a multivariate analysis, a positive correlation between severe osteoporosis and Chit (p < 0.001), beta-CTX (p = 0.013), and age (p < 0.001) was observed.
Conclusion:
This is the first clinical study showing a correlation between Chit and severe postmenopausal osteoporosis. Larger and prospective studies are needed to evaluate if Chit may be a promising clinical biomarker and/or therapeutic monitor in subjects with osteoporosis.
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